John Brooks to Referee Bournemouth vs. Liverpool in Fourth Round of League Cup

The fourth round of the League Cup will bring a familiar face to Anfield on Wednesday evening, as John Brooks is set to referee the clash between Bournemouth and Liverpool.

It is rare now that an official will be appointed a game without at least a minor concern over their performance in a previous fixture, and this is certainly the case with Brooks.

The referee has already been involved in controversy this season, with his last game in charge of the Reds being the 2-1 comeback at Newcastle in August, which saw Virgil van Dijk sent off in the first half.

VAR Controversy at Newcastle

Van Dijk was adjudged to have denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity when he brought down Alexander Isak as the last man, though it was certainly questionable whether that was the case.

A lengthy VAR check followed, with the Liverpool captain shown a red card and subsequently banned for an extended two matches for his response.

The Dutchman told Brooks his decision was a “fucking joke,” before an incident involving fourth official Craig Pawson before heading down the tunnel.

Brooks’ Previous Games in Charge of Liverpool

Brooks has so far refereed three Liverpool games, the first being the Reds’ 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Dean Court last season.

His other game in charge was the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa in May, when he overlooked a red-card challenge from Tyrone Mings that saw his studs leave an imprint on Cody Gakpo’s chest.

Lee Betts and Akil Howson Assistant Referees, James Linington Fourth Official

There is no VAR at this stage of the League Cup, with Lee Betts and Akil Howson assistant referees and James Linington fourth official.

Van Dijk’s £100,000 Fine

The FA handed out a £100,000 fine to Van Dijk, which is one of the worst in history, with the defender missing the wins over Aston Villa and Wolves due to his suspension.

Conclusion

John Brooks will referee his first Liverpool game since the 2-1 comeback at Newcastle in August, and it is sure to be an interesting game. With no VAR in place, it will be interesting to see how Brooks handles any controversial decisions that may arise.